Wheel



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H. V. LUDWICK WHEEL f Filed Aug'. 1, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 WW ww?? l im Mfw v. Mmmm 0M :Z ma M D wm m/w m F mw U [r11 H W. .0 I 1 38 oct.; 25 192m H. V. LUDWICK WHEEL Filed Aue. l. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 25, 1927. I

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.

HERBERT V'. LUDWICK, OF PHILADELEHIA, FENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO '.BDD WHEEL COMPANY, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

WHEEL.

Application filed August 1, 1922-. Serial No. 578,898.

My invention relates to improvement in wheels and has to do, more particularly, with demountable disc wheels for automobiles.

`The main object of my invention is to provide a demountable disc wheel construction which is simple, effective, light and may be manufactured at a low cost.

vA further object ot my invention is to provide a demountable disc wheel construction having an improved driving connection bctween the hub and the disc.

Another object of my invention is to provide a demountable disc wheel construction having a hub which is very light and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of my invention is to provide a demountable disc wheel construction in which the driving connection between the hub and the wheel is effected by clamping :i portion of the disc between two members on the hub, the disc being so formed that this clamping action places portions of 'the disc under compression, setting up a pressure actfor the disc and ing on the retaining means tending to hold it tight.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies ot operation and construction, will definitely appear trom the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects ot my'invention by the devices and means described in the following specilication. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part ot this specilication, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a wheel embodying my invention. l

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the wheel taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the wheelhub in end elevation, showing ythe disc mounted thereon and the hub `cap and driving ring removed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the driving ring, looking at that side thereof which is presented toward the disc.

Fig. 5 is a detail, sectional view, the line 5-5 ot Fig.l2, and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 ot Fig. 1.

' In the drawings, the same' reference nu merals refer to the same partsl throughout taken on the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking' in the direction of the arrows at the ends ot the section lines.

' A deinountable disc wheel comprises a hub and a demountable disc carried by the hub and supporting the rim and tire. It is necessary to provide a driving connection between the hub and the disc of such a nature that the two parts turn as one, in use, but may be quickly and easily separated when it. is desired to remove the disc in changing wheels. It is particularly desirable that the weight ot' these wheels be kept as low as possible and, of course, it is always an object to cut the cost et manufacture as much as possible, while producing a wheel which is strong and durable and stands up under the conditions which it has to meet in use. In demountable wheel constructions in use at the present time, the construction of the hub. for the purpose of eltecting a driving connection with the disc, is such as to adfl greatly to the weight and cost of the hub. The purpose ot my invention is to provide a demountable wheel construction having a hub which is very greatly simplified, is light and can be manufactured at a low cost. It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a demountable disc which may be very readily ;tormed tor connection with the hub of the wheel. I propose to provide a hub having a radial flange on which the disc wheel is mounted. I provide a driving member or 'ring which is non-rotatably mounted on the hub and I clamp the` central' portion of tl-.e disc between the driving member or ring and the hub flange. I propose to provide means whereby the driving rin g and the disc are locked to each other, when the driving ring is clamped in place. so as to prevent rotation ot the disc relative to such driving ring. The purposes of my invention may be accomplished by providing a hub with; a radial flange against which the disc is held by a driving ring which is mounted'on a driving shoulder formed on the hub of such shape as to prevent rotation of such driving ring relative .to the hub. In order to prevent anyY rotation of the disc with respect to the driving ring, I propose to form driving bosses in the disc which seat in corresponding recesses in the driving ring. The driving ring is forced against the disc to yieldingly clamp the same against the hub flange by a hub ca p screwed on the end of the hub.

i The demountable disc wheel illustrated in 'theaccompanying drawings as constitutingone embodiment of my invention consists of the hub, 10, rigidly secured to the axle shaft,

11, by `the nut, 12, and the usual key. The hub, 10, has the rear flange, 13, carrying the brake drum, '14, and the outer radial flange, 15, to which the central portion of the demountable disc is clamped. A cylindrical shoulder, 16., is formed at thebase of the fected inthe followin manner. In front of the cylindrical shoul er, 16, the hubis provided with a tapered driving shoulder, 17, of frustro-pyramidal form and in front of this the end of the hub is externally threaded, as

'at 18. A driving ring, 23, has a central opening therein, the edge of which conforms to and tits the driving. shoulder, 17 of the hub, so that the driving ring is compelled to turn with the' hub, while it may be ad# justed longitudinally with respect to the axis thereof. In order to establish a driving cont nection between the disc and the driving ring, 23, I form a plurality of convex drivin bosses, 22, in the disc, arranged at equal ra ial distances with respect to the center thereof. In this case I have shown four of these driving bosses. I provide the inner face of the driving ring, 23,.with corresponding concave recesses, 24, arranged at equal radial distances from the center ofthe ring and held therein by t e screw, 30.

and adapted to engage said convex bosses, as illustrated in Figs. 2,v 5 and 6. A hub cap, 25, is screwed on the externally-threaded portion, 18, of the hub, andthe radially extending llange, 26, of saidhub cap engages vthe driving rin 23, and forces the same toward the hub ange 15, clamping the central portion of the disc between said flange `anddriving ring. This causes the driving bosses, 22, to seat in the concave recesses, 24, of the driving ring and such bosses are conipressed somewhat by the force applied, inv

screwing up'the hub cap so as to set u a spring pressure acting like a spring was er on the driving ring and hub cap to maint-ain the latter tight.

In order to prevent unintentional rotation of the hub ca I provide a spring-pressed detent carried Iby the driving ring and coacting with the hub cap. This detent consists of the plunger, 27, carried by the spring, 28, positioned in the openin 29, of the ring,r2l,

e plunger, 27, has a tapered nose which snaps into en agement with one of the recesses, 31, in the ange, 26, of the hub cap, when such 19, may be removed by unscrewing the hub cap, 25, and removing it and the driving ring, 23. The disc, 19, may be removed and .another discv yplaced upon the hub and clamped in position on the driving shoulder, 17 and forcing said driving ring into clamping engagement with the disc by screwing up the hub cap, 25. The hub10, is of very simple construction, islight in weight and requires only afew simple machine operations for its manufacture. The bosses, 22, may be formed inthe disc, 19, at the same time that the disc is pressed to the required form for the wheel, so that the construction of the demountable disc is very simple and inexpensive. The driving ring, 23, is a part which can be formed very easily and cheaply. The hub cap is a simple stamping. As a result, this lwheel construction is very light and inexpensive to manufacture but, nevertheless, it is strong and durable and meets the demands and requirements coming upon such a wheel construction in use on the road. I have shown a tapered disc, 19, and this is to be preferred inasmuch-as it decreases the peripheral weight of-the wheel, but a disc of uniform thickness might be used without departing from the spirit of my invention. I have shown a driving shou'lder,17, on the hub, of frustro-pyramidal form but I might use a shoulder of dill'er'ent form having any suitable arrangement` for interlocking with the driving ring to prevent the rotation a thereof, while permitting movement of the driving ring 'longitudinally off. the wheel axis.

I am aware that the wheel construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing may be changed considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatl I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: y

1. In a wheel the combination of a hub, a disc mounted on said hub and adapted to carry a wheel rim, a driving ring mounted on the hub and engaging the disc and having a face to face .driving engagement with a radially extending face of said disc and a nut screwed on the hub'and engaging the driving ring to force it against the disc and clamp the disc between said ring and a portion of the hub.

lll

having co-Iitting vcarry a wheel rim,

tat'ably and removably mounted on said' .2. In a wheel the combination of a hub, a disc mounted on said hub andv adapted to a driving ring non-rohub and engaging the disc and having a `face to tace driving engagement with a radially extending face of said dise and a nut screwed on the hub and engaging the driv ing ring to force itagainst the dise and clamp the dise between said ring and a portion of the hub.

3. In a Wheel the Combination of a hubing ring to force it against the disc. andclamp the disc between said ring and a portion of the hub.

4. In a wheel the combination of a hub, a

' disc mounted on said 'hub and adapted lto carry a wheel rim, a driving ring mounted on the wheel liub and non-rotatablewith respect thereto and having a i'ace to face driving engagementwith a radially extending face ot said disc, Said dise and driving ring having co-itting interengaging portions preventing relative rotation of discl and ring, and a nut screwed on the hub and engaging the driving ring to force it against the disc and clamp the dise between saidring and a. portion of the hub. l

5. In a wheel the combination of a .liub having a radial flange, al disc mounted on said liub and adapted to carry a wheel rim and having a face to a radially extending face ot' said Harige. a driving ring removably and non-rotatably mounted on face driving engagement with a radially extending face of said disc, said ring and dise having co-ittinginterengaging portionsl preventing relative rotation of said ring and disc, and a nut screwed on said hub and engaging the driving ring to force it against the dise and clamp the disc between said ring and flange.

6. In a Wheel the combination of a hub having a radial flange and a driving shoulder of non-circular cross-section atthe base of said flange, a disc mount-ed on said hub and adapted to carry a Wheel rim and having a face. to face engagement with a radially extending face of said disc, a driving ring'itting and removably mounted on said driving shoulder and having a face to face driving engagement with a radially extendsaid disc and ring portions disc and ing face of said disc,

interengagin 'preventing relatlve rotation o ring, and a nut screwed on the hub and ,ing

y'having a radial face engagement with the hub and having a face to engaging the.v ring to force it-againstjsaid dise and clamp the disc between 'said ring and liange.

7. Ina wheel having a radial Harige. a disc mounted o ii in a face to face engagement withv a radiallyl extending face ot said disc, adrivring removably and non-rotatably mounted on said hub. and having a face to face driving engagement with a radially extending face of vsaid dise, means preventing relative rotation ot said ringl and disc.-

and-.inean's for lforcing said ring against the disc to clamp the dise between'said ring and flange.

the combination a hub -said hub and engaging said flange `a'iidh'av- 8.1-In vai wheel the combination of a hubl flange, a cylindrical shoulder at the base of said flange and a frustrepyramidal driving shoulder in front of said cylindrical shoulder` a dise havinga central opening fittingI said cylindrical shoulder anda plurality of driving bosses arranged at equal radial distances from the center of the disc. said'dise having a fa'ee to face engagement with a radially extending #tace 'of said flange, a driving ring having a portion fitting said driving shoulder and a. plurality ot, recesses ceivc said driving bosses, and avliub cap screwed on lsaid hub and engaging the driving ring to torce it against the disc.

In a wheel the combination of a hub, av

9. dise mounted on said .hub and ladapted to carry a Wheel rim, a driving ring removably and non-rotatably mounted on the hub and Y y face driving engagement.

face 'of said disc,

having4 a iaee to with a radially extending said-disc and ringr having-co-itting intereng'aging portions preventingrelative rotation of the disc and ring, a n ut screwed on the hub and engaging said ring to force it against the dise ldnd clamp the latter between said ring zand a portion of .the hub, and means for preventing inadvertent rotation of the nut. f/

10. In a' wheel the' combination of a'hub, a diseimo'nnted on said hub and adapted to carry a wheel rim, a drivi and non-rotatably mounted on the hub and having a face to 'face driving engagement with a yradially extending face of said dise, said disc and ring having izo-fitting inter engaging portions preventing relativerota= tion of the vdise and ring. a mit screwed on the hub and engaging said ring to force it against the disc and clamp the latter between said ring and a portion of the hub, and' means carried by the nut andI cooperating with portions of the driving ring to prevent inadvertent rotation of the mit.v

11.' I-na wheel the combination with ay on said -hub and adapted and having s face to a radially extending hub. a dise mounted to'earry a wheel rim face engagement with adaptedto re.

ng ring removably llli') terengaging portions preventing relative rotation of the disc and ring, of a nut screwed on the hub and engagin said ring to force it against the disc and c amp the latter between said ring and a portlon of the hub, and a spring-pressed detent carried by said drivingring and cooperating with a plurality of recesses formed in said nut to prevent inadvertent rotation of said nut.

12. In a vehicle wheel, thev combination with a hub having a radially extending iange, of a wheel disc extending radially adjacent said flange, a clamping ring extendin radially adjacent said disc, and a nut on Sai hub and adjacent said ring for forcing said ring against said disc, said hub and disc and ring having face to face engagement with. the adjacent elements of these parts and being clamped together with said disc held between said flange and said ring.

13. An automobile wheel comprising a hub having a radially extending flange, a disc mounted on said hub in non-driving engagement with said flange,a combined driving and clamping-ring having positive drivp ing engagement with both said hub and the radially extending face of said dise.

14. An automobile wheel comprising a hub having a radially extending flange, a wheelA 'disc-mounted on said hub having non-driving engagement with said hub, and a driving ring through which said disc is clamped to said ila-nge which ring has driving engagement with said hub and also positive driving engagement with the disc in a zone radially 4 ing ring adapted to clamp a disc on said,

flange and having positive driving engagement with the hub, the disc bein between the driving ring and the having' non-driving connection with the liange but positive driving connection with the driving ring through the; intermediary of coacting projections of a self-centering 0* character.

17. In a vehicle Wheel the combination of a hub having a radially extending face portion. a disc mounted on the hub and having a face to face engagement with said radially extending face portion of said hub, means to clamp the same on the hub, and means intermediate the clampingmember and disc interlocked commonly with the disc and hub, said interlocked means having a face to face engagement with a radially extending face of said disc, whereby the drivingtorque is transmitted from the hub tothe disc through -t-he intermediate member.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.u

HERBERT V, LUDWICK.

clamped V ange and 

